The rewilding of Karlindy

Karst Kruen’s property ‘Karlindy’ had been cultivated and grazed for over a century, the land left depleted after years of intensive seed-farming and herbicide use. It was the opportunity that this Barwite property represented that attracted Karst to purchase it in the first place, with a goal to transform the land into a flourishing haven for native wildlife and threatened species, a living tribute to his late wife Lindy. What began as one man’s dream on a private parcel of land just outside Mansfield, has become a source of inspiration, the ambitious restoration project a powerful example of the BushBank program in action. The BushBank program is a $77 million Victorian Government initiative aimed at reversing biodiversity loss and combating climate change by restoring natural environments and ecosystems across the state. The government has allocated over $30 million of this commitment towards habitat restoration on private land through its Private Land Stream, providing funding and support to landowners committed to revegetating their properties with locally native plants Karst with his passion and dedication was the perfect applicant to partner with BushBank; the program reflecting his long-term commitment to conservation. One of two BushBank projects in the shire – alongside Tillabudgery in Woodfield – Karst’s Barwite property is one of the more inspiring case studies, with the site providing that firsthand insight as to what the initiative looks like on the ground and in the paddock. Joining Karst and representatives from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Up2Us Landcare and Cassinia Environmental, Minister for the Environment Steve Dimopoulos recently enjoyed a site visit to Karlindy to hear directly from the people who are making the program happen. Stepping into the portfolio in late 2023, the minister confirmed that though he had known about the BushBank program for many years, this was his first opportunity to visit private land and see the program in action. “Our goal is to restore over 20,000 hectares, and without the assistance of landowners and private investment through partnerships with organisations like Cassinia Environmental we would only be able to achieve a percentage of this," he said. The minister also tipped his hat to the contribution of Landcare – “always a bastion” – and what he deemed one of the biggest volunteer armies in the country with an ability to tap into and marshal local communities and resources. Up2Us Landcare’s Kim Magnay has relished the connection with the project. “It’s not often you get the privilege of seeing a whole property like this restored,” she said. Kim said Karlindy had become an open classroom, with school groups – both local and from further afield – helping plant out the property, monitoring the health of the Broken River and the riparian zone which border the acreage, and learning the importance of environmental stewardship. For Karst who bought the property in memory of his late wife with the express purpose of regenerating it, this aspect of the venture is probably the closest to his heart. “Lindy passed away five years ago and I wanted to buy a barren piece of land and revegetate it,” he said. A teacher, Lindy was passionate about education and the environment, and the endeavour seemed a fitting tribute. For Karst, a self-described tree planter who designs and manufactures valves as his day job, the project is also the culmination of a lifelong passion that began with planting a tree on Arbor Day in grade four. With its origins in community tree planting, Arbor Day was a precursor to modern Landcare initiatives like National Tree Day. This small act inspired a young Karst, and he hopes that his property will serve the same purpose encouraging a new generation. When looking to buy land, Mansfield Shire had been his preference and Karst counts himself fortunate to have found the 48-hectare block with its Broken River and Bridge Creek frontage. Buying the property on the last day of March in 2021, just one day after settlement Karst planted his first tree. With only 11 mature trees on the entire property, Karst initially funded all the replanting from his own pocket, planting over 12,000 trees himself before embarking on collaborations with local volunteer groups. “Karst contacted Up2Us when he first purchased the property,” said Kim Magnay. “We met with him on-site and walked the property with him on settlement day. “We then provided a revegetation property plan for his proposed works, which has evolved over the years with the assistance of Andrew Storie from Bowerbird Nursery.” A Tolmie local, Andrew previously ran the nursery at the Euroa Arboretum and with the organisation’s mission statement “to grow back the bush” this was the very sort of project Andrew embraced. “He’s a very modest man, but gee he does an absolutely outstanding job,” Karst said of working alongside Andrew. “I’ve been coming to Mansfield for years, and to meet people like Andrew and get the local Landcare, community and schools involved in realising my vision has been incredible. “I derive huge enjoyment from working with so many like-minded people.” It was under the suggestion of Up2Us Landcare that Karst reached out to Cassinia Environmental, one of the key delivery partners of the state government’s BushBank Private Land Stream, for help with the revegetation. With Cassinia Environmental providing support and BushBank helping with financing, the project has moved ahead rapidly. Albeit still in the early stages of recovery, canopy trees have been planted with attention turned to the understory. Native grasses have also been planted to restore what once would have been Floodplain Riparian Woodland and Plains Grassy Woodland. On the walking tour of the Barwite property, Steve Dimopoulos the environment minister commended Karst on his endeavours. As he surveyed the restoration of the once agricultural land, a dozen fallow deer broke from the shelter of the riparian zone and bolted across the landscape. Indicative of just one of the many pests Karst has to contend with, the deer provided a timely reminder of the problems of introduced species on local ecosystems and revegetation projects. It is deer that represent one of the biggest problems when regenerating land across Victoria, with damage evident across Karst’s 48-hectare property with tree guards uprooted and new plantings decimated. It could be a disheartening task, but Karst has opted for the sheer law of numbers, planting great swathes of natives in the belief some must – and do - survive. To date, upwards of 13,500 trees and shrubs from more than 30 local native species have been planted, with Karst setting a goal of 17,000 by the completion of the project. Supported by rigorous weed and necessary pest animal control, the change is already evident. Birds have returned to the property, drawn to the newly established habitats, including thick patches of the common reed (Phragmites Australis) which have sprung up. “I get a real buzz from the way nature itself is healing the land and returning to an equilibrium,” Karst said of the abundance of reeds now dotting the paddocks. Darting about the property the sound of bird call is only stilled now when a falcon or other bird of prey is sighted, the smaller birds retiring to hiding places amongst the reeds and silence briefly reigning. Removing agriculture so close to the river, the health of the waterway has also improved with no pesticide, herbicide or fertiliser run-off impacting the stretch. Platypus have been observed, and the endangered Gang-gang cockatoo has returned to feed and nest in the area. “You never own land,” Karst said pointing out the property borders, with the remnant Red Gums still standing. “You only ever look after it, and I’m lucky enough to be the current custodian which I’m paying the bank for the privilege." However, Karst will also be the last custodian. His partnership with BushBank has ensured Karst’s commitment to the land will be protected into perpetuity by a Trust for Nature conservation covenant, with Karlindy elevated from one man’s vision to a shared ecological legacy. Cassinia Environmental’s general manager for operations Chris Lindorff said projects like Karlindy are more than just tree planting, they are part of a living system of change. “This project is not an isolated effort, but part of something larger,” Chris said. Two years into the initiative, landowner recruitment and site progress has been steady, with Karst's property one of 50 BushBank sites underway. “It is an example of what can happen when landholders, government, Traditional Owners, and restoration partners come together under a shared vision and supported framework. “The BushBank program is a powerful, place-based response to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. “The BushBank Private Land Stream has secured a commitment of 8651 hectares toward the 20,000-hectare 2030 target,” Chris said. “At the end of this planting season, BushBank will have delivered 5315 hectares of restoration on the ground and 147 hectares of land will be protected under conservation covenant with more to follow. “138,622 seedlings have been planted over the last couple of years and nearly 800 kilograms of native seed – with over half sourced from First Nations suppliers – has been sown. “And an estimated 521,000 tonnes of CO2 will be sequestered by 2045 from the current projects alone,” Chris said. “These are not just numbers – they’re habitats rebuilt, species safeguarded, and communities engaged.”

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